Wednesday, 24 February 2010

On a visit to Bodiam Castle in freezing East Sussex, a shivering but determined guide reminded us that men and women of olde used to drink beer instead of water because it was safer, having been boiled as part of the brewing process.

The thought re-entered my head soon afterwards as I took a sip from a pint of Harveys Sussex Best - my first in a while. Smooth with a hoppy finish, this (4%) beer, brewed down the road in Lewes, is an old favourite of mine. Although a little potent to substitute for water, there's something essentially staple-like about this well-balanced, well-loved session ale, which surely would have found firm fans among the castle people of olde.